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Gwilym’s excellent "Good Days at Schloss Elmau" album has been nominated for
the Mercury Prize (no chance of winning, though - it’s the token Jazz album)
and the Guardian has a lovely little video in which Gwilym explains how he
wrote the track "These are the Good Days" and then plays it. Fascinating
stuff. http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/video/2011/aug/18/gwilym-simcock-
these-good-days-video

djbinder et al, Reverie at Schloss Elmau is ________. Yep, that good. Pls. let us know if you review it.

tokeyoziNov 25 2011at 2:56 PM

Watched Tim Garland’s
Storms/Nocturnes just now.
Really good stuff. Amazing line-
up also, no bass, no drums.
Hopefully either S/N or
Lighthouse (or both) will play
the flatlands next year.

Bob MeyrickNov 24 2011at 3:33 AM

I should also mention that the
third in my trio of gigs
(three in four days!) - the
Hot Club of Cowtown - were
terrific fun. Django Reinhardt
meets Bob Wills and his Texas
Playboys. I was able to get my
copy of the new CD ("What
Makes Bob Holler") signed and
briefly chat to the band. For
guitar aficionados, Whit Smith
was using a 1946 Gibson L5
with an aftermarket cutaway,
with a Dearmond pickup stuck
on with putty(!), into a 1930s
Gibson EH150 amp - an
absolutely classic sound!

Bob MeyrickNov 24 2011at 3:23 AM

As I mentioned before, there are
apparently tour dates booked for
next year - keep your eyes
peeled. They were well worth the
240 mile round trip to
Birkenhead!

johnNov 22 2011at 1:37 PM

I caught TIG supporting Steve Swallow’s Quintet. I‘m afraid Steve suffered by comparison – certainly some of the music choices didn’t help being rather dirge-like and lacking the drive, excitement and emotional connect that TIG gave. They were really very impressive – I caught myself thinking that the last time my first introduction to a band (I’ve not listened to any of their stuff before) had so much initial impact was PMG. I’m looking forward to catching up with them playing a full set. Cheers John.

Bob MeyrickNov 19 2011at 4:05 AM

Ah, Lighthouse. Tim Garland is a great saxophonist (you
have to be good to work with Chick Corea!) and Asaf Sirkis
is a terrific percussionist. Tim also has a great trio
called "Storms/Nocturnes" with Joe Locke on vibes and
Geoff Keezer on piano.

tokeyoziNov 16 2011at 12:31 PM

Thanks for sharing, Bob, I had
exactly the same experience
with the IG. They really
enjoyed playing together, and
there really was a connection
with the audience. Can’t judge
Thomas Dolby, haven’t heard
him for quite some years. I do
have his Golden Age of
Wireless, and particularly
liked the song ’Airwaves’.
With reference to what I said
earlier, I’m afraid I made a
mistake, or rather, I simply
misunderstood what Gwilym told
me after the Impossible Gents
show. I thought he was
planning to form a band,
Lighthouse, but accidentally I
saw that he has already
produced an album with Tim
Garland’s Lighthouse, album:
Libra (2009). It’s really
worth a listen. Here’s a link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=1utgAGHlHl4

Bob MeyrickNov 15 2011at 3:18 AM

The second of my trio of gigs (Thomas Dolby) was something of a
disappointment. The O2 Academy in Birmingham has within it three
venues and Dolby was in the middle one. The main venue played host
to Evanescence, who, judging by their fans (black hair, black
clothes, pale complexions), were going to be loud. They must have
been, judging by the amount of low frequencies bleeding through into
Dolby’s venue. This may have been why Dolby’s sound engineer turned
up the bass to such an extent that it became unpleasant. Trouser-
flapping bass is not something I generally like. I had to improvise
earplugs from a tissue. On the other hand, the Dolby band were good
and Thomas himself had dug out his old Fairlight samples - great to
hear Magnus Pyke exclaiming "Science!" again. The set was a good mix
of old and new, and they finished with a favourite of mine,
"Hyperactive". In a better venue, with a better sound, it would have
been a great gig.

Bob MeyrickNov 13 2011at 3:09 AM

This was the fourth time I’ve seen the Impossibles, and they just get better
and better. "When You Hold Her" is an absolutely gorgeous tune - Gwilym
Simcock’s unaccompanied intro was as good as anything you’ll hear by anyone
and Mike Walker’s guitar solo was passionate and intensely moving. Steve
Rodby did a great job - I spoke to him briefly after the gig and he’d found
the tour tiring but very enjoyable. He mentioned that the band have tour
dates already booked for next year and I think he’d be very happy to do the
gig if Swallow wasn’t available! Adam Nussbaum was terrific too - great
drumming and a nice sense of humour!

I’ve opted for The Impossible
Gents on Saturday at the
Pacific Road Arts centre, the
Wirral, and Thomas Dolby at
the O2 Academy in Birmingham
on Sunday. My reasoning is
that I’ve never been to the
Wirral before. Then on Tuesday
I’m off to visit my sister in
South Wales and take in the
Hot Club of Cowtown in
Cardiff!

johnNov 10 2011at 5:24 PM

Easy choice for me - Steve Swallow and Impossible Gentlemen in London. See you there maybe. Cheers John

hman01Nov 08 2011at 2:18 PM

Thanks Bob! No harm intended in my comments.It’s just that in Florida,certain artists don’t get here very often or at all.

Bob MeyrickNov 08 2011at 3:18 AM

Point taken hman01! My problem
is a good one to have.

hman01Nov 07 2011at 1:37 PM

Help Guys-Here in Florida,I’ve got 3 options:
1)Cold beer and watch TV
2)Cold beer and bowling
3)Cold beer and a drive in the country
Please help fly me to the North Sea.
Thanks

tokeyoziNov 07 2011at 7:26 AM

It’s what is generally called a
luxury problem ;) Always happens
whenever I’m at North Sea Jazz.
Too many good bands playing at
the same time.

Bob MeyrickNov 05 2011at 5:21 AM

I have some choices to make. The Impossible Gentlemen are playing two UK dates,
Saturday 12th November in the Wirral (near Liverpool) and Sunday 13th November in
London, where they are supporting the Steve Swallow Quintet. Neither of these is
particularly convenient - the Wirral is a 2 1/2 hour drive away. However, on the
12th November, Steve Swallow is playing in Birmingham (much more convenient), and
Thomas Dolby is also playing Birmingham on the 13th. A Thomas Dolby tour is a rare
event - I saw his one-off solo performance in London a few years ago which was
pretty amazing.
My options are -
(1)Impossible Gentlemen + Thomas Dolby (2)Steve Swallow + Thomas Dolby (3)Steve
Swallow/Impossible Gentlemen. Help!

tokeyoziNov 05 2011at 4:50 AM

Klaus, if you check their site
(Impossible Gentlemen with
Gwilym Simcock) you’ll find
they have 2 gigs in Germany
next week, Berlin next Monday
and Dortmund on Friday 11th.
Gwilym told me after last
week’s show he’s forming a
group for next year,
Lighthouse, planning an album
(and possibly a tour) in
April.

tokeyoziNov 03 2011at 3:51 PM

Saw the Impossible Gentlemen
at Tilburg last Saturday,
their first European gig. I
can assure you, Bob, if you’re
going, you’re in for a musical
treat. Must say guitarist Mike
Walker was quite a revelation
to me, playing a fine mix of
jazz and blues.

tokeyoziSep 17 2011at 3:24 AM

Rodby for Swallow, that’s not a
bad replacement at all. Anyhow,
very much looking forward to the
concert, Oct. 29th.

Bob MeyrickSep 15 2011at 2:21 AM

It’s perhaps worth adding that Steve Swallow will not
be touring with the Impossible Gentlemen, as he’s
touring Europe with his own quintet at the same time.
Another Steve is taking his place though - Steve Rodby.
Both bands are appearing at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in
London on November 13.

tokeyoziSep 13 2011at 10:35 AM

Met Gwilym the other day,
right after his show with the
choir (which btw was great).
Really sympathetic guy. Told
him I was a big fan; maybe
that’s why he gave me a free
copy of his latest album Good
Days at Schloss Elmau (**big
smile**), which he had recorded
in one day, as he adds in his
sleeve notes “even with the
added challenge of noisy
caterers and tractors
outside”. Couldn’t help asking
who had inspired him most, and
the first 2 names he mentioned
were Keith Jarrett and, yes,
Pat Metheny. He and The
Impossible Gentlemen will be
doing a 2-week tour in Europe,
starting in Holland next
month, so I’ll be there. If
there are still garagistas who
haven’t checked out either
Gwilym or the Gentlemen: if
you’re a Pat fan you might
like them too.

tokeyoziAug 21 2011at 10:42 AM

Very true, Bob. Besides, for
amateurs it is one of those
highlights that keeps them
going; and needless to say it
keeps them on their toes as
well :) Gwilym says the
previous show together with
the choir – as part of his
compositional cycle Freedom –
was such a success that he has
composed a piece especially
for them, which will be played
in a renewed collaboration.
Three weeks from now, and very
much looking forward to it.

Bob MeyrickAug 20 2011at 4:11 AM

In an interview (in the Guardian, I think) Gwilym said something to the effect
that music is his whole life, so perhaps it’s not surprising that he should
choose to work with a choir of such a high standard (that’s a great piece of
music in the clip!). In Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, we have the Cantamus Girls
Choir (http://www.cantamus.com/choirs.htm) who have worked with the great John
Surman, amongst others. Most of the jazz musicians I’ve met over the years have
been open to working with and encouraging amateurs - they understand the
benefits of actively participating in music.

tokeyoziAug 19 2011at 2:07 PM

Funny that you should mention
Gwilym Simcock, Bob. I was
talking with a few of my
relatives about his Trio just
the other day, as Gwilym cs
are accompanying a local and
highly unknown choir (of which
these relatives are members)
performing in our region very
soon. We were wondering (and
still are) why on earth a
great band like that would
play with such an unknown
bunch of ‘amateurs’. And
besides, it would be the
second time! This was last
year’s performance. My
apologies for the poor
footage. Anyway, I’ve just
ordered myself his CD
Perception.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=-UlFYymRasE